US President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered a televised address outlining Washington's position on the escalating Middle East conflict, emphasizing continued military pressure in future two to three weeks on Iran if there's no deal reached.

NASA's Artemis II Moon mission lifted off Wednesday from the US state of Florida, carrying four astronauts on the first crewed flight around the Moon since 1972. The Space Launch System rocket, with the Orion spacecraft on top, launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 6:35 pm Eastern Time, according to media reports.

While saying the United States is "nearing completion" of its core objectives in Iran, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday night threatened to hit Iran "extremely hard over the next two to three weeks," a timeline he has recently set for ending the monthlong war.

The UN Security Council will focus on the Middle East in April, taking up issues concerning Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank, Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, Bahrain's permanent representative to the United Nations and president of the council for the month, said Wednesday.

NASA's Artemis II Moon mission lifted off Wednesday from the U.S. state of Florida, carrying four astronauts on the first crewed flight around the Moon in more than 50 years.

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks about Iran seeking a ceasefire as "false and baseless," according to state-run Press TV.

New York City (NYC) has lifted its ban on TikTok for government-owned devices, allowing agencies to resume posting on the platform under new security protocols, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Tuesday via the app itself.

Demonstrations were held in Japan on Tuesday evening as citizens voiced strong opposition to the government's decision to deploy long-range missiles in the country.

US President Donald Trump will update the nation on the Iran war in an address at 9 p.m. ET (0100 GMT on Thursday) on Wednesday, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt posted on X on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. military will leave Iran in two or three weeks.

Six crew members and 23 passengers were killed when a Russian An‑26 military transport plane crashed in Crimea, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed early Wednesday.

Amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump has made a series of statements, on one hand claiming that he is willing to end the US military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, while on the other hand calling on the Arab countries to pay for the costs of the Iran war. A Chinese expert said that these statements often act as a “smoke screen” to mislead both Iran and regional states, while the US administration faces genuine budgetary constraints for the ongoing war.

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) is set to deploy long-range missiles from Tuesday to gain strike capability against enemy bases, according to Japanese media outlets. A Chinese military affairs expert said that Japan's deployment of such destructive weapons is by no means purely for defensive purposes, and that Japan's strategic intent behind these developments poses a substantial security risk to neighboring countries.

Elected representatives from Myanmar's Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) and Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House) on Tuesday elected a vice president each from among their respective candidates.

U.S. President Donald Trump has told aides that he's willing to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday night, citing Trump administration officials.

Chinese Consulate in Chicago urges probe, end to discriminatory law enforcement after Chinese scholar dies in US

U.S. President Donald Trump has told aides that he's willing to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday night, citing Trump administration officials.

The Group of Seven (G7) on Monday called on international organizations to deepen their assessment of how the evolving situation in the Middle East could affect energy markets.

U.S. President Donald Trump "would be quite interested" in calling on Arab countries to help pay for the costs related to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire and a political solution to the escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf region during a video conference with counterparts from Gulf Arab states, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Iran's parliament has kicked off a process to approve a plan to exercise smart management over the Strait of Hormuz, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Monday.

Trump says US in serious discussions with Iran to end military operations

As Yemen's Houthi forces signal a potential entry into the Middle East fray, tensions across the region continue to escalate. The Houthis recently indicated they are considering launching military attacks or imposing a blockade in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in support of Iran, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

Military means cannot resolve the root cause of the problem, and a prolonged war and escalating conflict serve no one's interests, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday in response to a question regarding last week's meeting of G7 foreign ministers, who urged an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure but did not call for a cessation of attacks on all targets.

Iran has destroyed a US E-3 Sentry stationed at a Saudi air base, according to multiple media reports. So far, Washington has made no public claim on the incident. A Chinese expert told the Global Times on Monday that the strike reflects how Iran orchestrates its intelligence-to-strike chain, from real-time surveillance to the rapid engagement of time-sensitive assets. The expert noted that the precision and destructive effect suggest advances in weapon guidance, while the timing of the attack shows how Tehran has maintained operational tempo despite weeks of airstrikes.

Iran confirmed the death of Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, local media reported Monday.

Ye Win Oo has been appointed Myanmar's commander-in-chief of defence services, succeeding Min Aung Hlaing, military-owned Myawaddy TV reported on Monday.

China has decided to take countermeasures against Keiji Furuya, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan's National Diet, according to a decision released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he wants to "take the oil in Iran" and could seize Kharg Island, the country's oil export hub.

UN peacekeeper killed after projectile falls into UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon

To the rhythm of beating drums and ringing bells, hundreds of protesters marched past the Lincoln Memorial and onto the National Mall on Saturday, filling the heart of Washington DC with a chorus of chants.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Saturday that he had negotiated air defense agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates during his Middle East tour promoting anti-drone technologies. Kiev hopes to leverage the move to diversify source of support rather than relying solely on external security assistance, raising concerns that the two conflicts could increasingly intersect and mutually reinforce one another, a Chinese expert noted.

Millions of Americans took to the streets Saturday in the third wave of "No Kings" rallies across the United States, protesting policies of the U.S. administration, ranging from military action in Iran to controversial immigration enforcement.

Venezuela's Vice Foreign Minister for Europe and North America Oliver Blanco announced Saturday that the Venezuelan government has reclaimed its embassy in the United States.

The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) oversaw the training of special operations units during a visit to a major training base, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Sunday.

The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has overseen a ground jet test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine and an assessment test of the country's new-type main battle tank, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday.

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation late Saturday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, promising that Pakistan will continue to support efforts aimed at restoring regional peace and stability, the Pakistani foreign office said on Sunday.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Saturday in a social media post that he and his wife, Cilia Flores, are "well, firm and calm," two days after a court hearing in New York.

The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, as thousands of U.S. soldiers and Marines arrive in the Middle East for what could become a dangerous new phase of the war should U.S. President Donald Trump choose to escalate, The Washington Post reported on Saturday.

Japanese police on Sunday searched the Self-Defense Forces base where Kodai Murata is stationed, as well as his residence, on suspicion of unlawful entry, after he was arrested for forcibly entering the Chinese embassy in Japan on Tuesday, according to Kyodo News.

Following the forcible intrusion by an active-duty Self-Defense Forces officer into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo earlier this week, Japanese public figures have urged the government to take the incident more seriously, move beyond its current stance of expressing mere "regret," and formally apologize to China while conducting a thorough investigation to hold those responsible accountable.

Thailand has successfully secured safe passage for its oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz following diplomatic coordination with regional partners, helping ease concerns over potential energy supply disruptions amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, according to the government's public relations department.

The attack on Minab elementary school, which claimed the lives of 168 schoolgirls, represents an atrocity that crosses the bottom line of human morality, constitutes the greatest violation of human rights, and shows blatant contempt for international humanitarian law. China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the attack, and expresses profound sympathy to the families of the victims, Ambassador Jia Guide, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland, said on Friday.

Kuwait reported on Friday a coordinated attack of drones and cruise missiles on Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, the second port strike in the country within the same day.

Japanese media reported that on Thursday evening local time, a man fatally stabbed a female clerk inside a Pokémon-themed store on the second floor of Sunshine City, a commercial complex in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district, before attempting suicide. Both died despite rescue efforts. A Chinese expert said that the recent spate of extreme violent incidents in Japan suggest a broader rightward drift in social sentiment. When the toxic consequences of such ideological radicalization rebound on ordinary civilians in the form of indiscriminate violence, they expose a dangerous society growing more fractured and increasingly deprived of emotional release.

Researchers in Russia have developed an improved method for extracting a biologically active compound from brown algae, opening new possibilities for its use in healthcare, nutrition and biotechnology, reports the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

The foreign assets of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) exceeded AED 1.084 trillion at the end of January 2026, compared to AED 1.058 trillion at the end of December 2025, according to official data released on Tuesday.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries continued to raise defense spending in 2025, with total expenditure expected to exceed 1.4 trillion US dollars, according to the organization's annual report released on Thursday.

A US federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Pentagon from labeling AI company Anthropic a "supply chain risk," issuing a preliminary injunction that put the move on hold.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he will pause planned strikes on Iranian energy facilities for 10 days, claiming that talks between the two sides are "going very well."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made his second appearance Thursday morning in a New York court after his forcible seizure by U.S. troops in a military raid in Caracas early January.

A man and a woman have been confirmed dead following a stabbing incident at a commercial complex in Tokyo's bustling Ikebukuro district Thursday evening, local media reported.

U.S.-Iran indirect talks are taking place through messages being relayed by Pakistan, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said in a social media post on Thursday.

The Israeli military killed the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Alireza Tangsiri, on Thursday, Israeli state media reported.

Chinese side has repeatedly emphasized that a prolonged war serves no one's interests and will only cause more casualties, unnecessary losses and further spillover of the conflict if this war continues, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday when addressing a media question that Iran has denied any talks taking place with the US, contradicting US President's claim that Iran wants a deal. Is the Chinese side aware of any negotiations between the US and Iran and whether China is working to promote dialogue between the two sides?

From striking Iran and threatening Cuba to coveting Greenland and wielding tariff threats against allies…Many netizens say the US is increasingly acting like a “global harvester.” Scholars have given it a new name: “predatory hegemony.” What exactly is “predatory hegemony”? Why does it fit so perfectly with “MAGA-era America”? In this two-part Truth Unfolded series, we break it all down!

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz is open to all and ships can pass safely, but countries that are at war with Iran are not under consideration.

When asked about US president's claims that Washington would delay a planned attack on Iranian power facilities by five days and the US government was in talks with unnamed Iranian officials, Chinese FM spokesperson Lin Jian said that prolonging the conflict serves no party's interests, and ceasefire and dialogue are the only viable way forward. China is deeply concerned about the continued escalation and spillover of the current situation, which is impacting regional and international peace and stability. Relevant parties are urged to immediately cease hostilities and return to the track of peaceful dialogue as soon as possible, said Lin.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

Under the pretext of strengthening the defensive capability of its Southwest Islands, Japan is effectively making another move abandoning its post-WWII defensive posture.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday the United States is "very intent on making a deal with Iran," CNBC reported.

Iran has no direct or indirect contact with U.S. President Donald Trump, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday.

Trump says U.S. has very good, productive conversations with Iran over resolution of hostilities

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he had ordered the military to delay strikes on Iranian power plants and energy facilities for five days after what he called "productive" talks with Iran.

China once again calls on all parties to immediately halt military actions, avoid further escalation of tensions, and prevent regional instability from causing greater impact on global economic development, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on Monday when being asked by a reporter that since China had called on Iran to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and assets, whether China had asked Iran to ensure the safe passage of its ships and oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Chinese Embassy in Israel on Monday once again reminded Chinese nationals in the country to stop risking their safety, return to China as soon as possible or evacuate, and further step up security measures.

Lao National Assembly elects Thongloun Sisoulith as president

The United States is deploying additional troops and warships to the Middle East even as its president, Donald Trump, suggested a possible "winding down" of strikes against Iran.

After Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi concluded her three-day visit to the US, videos and images released by both Japan and the White House showing her gestures and expressions during the visit have sparked some domestic criticisms. Chinese experts said the gestures reflect an entrenched dependency mindset of Japan toward the US, aimed at seeking Washington's support amid mounting pressure over security issues, including US calls for escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for unity and action to address "the ancient poison of racism," which he said is alive and kicking in every community, society, country and region of the world.

The 23-day conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran hurtled toward a dangerous new flashpoint after US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum on social media, threatening to "hit and obliterate" Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. In a swift rebuke, Iran on Sunday vowed sweeping retaliation against energy infrastructure in the region. Analysts warned that the 48-hour deadline acts as a ticking time bomb as escalating tensions fuel volatility of global markets. Experts caution that as both sides traded threats to take extreme measures, it also suggests that neither side can secure a decisive victory, and ultimately, the conflict will have to be resolved through negotiations

IRGC says to close Hormuz Strait completely if Trump carries out his threat of targeting Iranian energy facilities -- ISNA

The US-Israeli strikes on Iran have entered their fourth week, with Washington's operations against Iran veering into contradictory directions. While US President Donald Trump has publicly said his intention to gradually “wind down” military operations, media reports said that the US Department of Defense has made comprehensive preparations for the potential deployment of ground forces inside Iranian territory. A Chinese expert said that the US is currently putting on a show of toughness, yet its real intent is to bring this unsustainable war to a face-saving end.

As the US-Israeli war against Iran approaches its fourth week, an unexpected progress has emerged on the battlefield. Despite a US senior official claiming that Iran's air defense has been flattened, Iranian military said it has damaged a US F-35 fighter jet, with the US side downplaying the attack.

As US President Donald Trump invoked Japan's 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, which propelled the US into World War II and ushered in ferocious sea battles in the Pacific that would finally force Japan to surrender in 1945, to defend the war Washington launched against Iran without informing allies such as Japan, an awkward moment unfolded in the Oval Office beside Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — a scene widely captured and reported in Japan and beyond, with some media describing Takaichi's reaction as uneasy and embarrassed.

More than 10,000 Japanese people gathered in Tokyo Thursday night to protest against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's dangerous policy agenda, including attempts to revise the country's pacifist Constitution and deployment of long-range missiles.

US President Donald Trump's remarks about Japan's 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, made while sitting beside Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office on Thursday local time as he explained why Washington did not notify allies such as Japan before striking Iran, have drawn wide media attention in Japan and beyond, with Takaichi's reaction described by some media as uneasy and embarrassing. A Chinese expert said Trump's remarks may have sounded like an off-the-cuff joke, but it revealed the US deeper view of allies and showed how the US selectively invokes historical memory to reinforce Japan's subordinate position and exert pressure.

A new virtual reality program for rehabilitating patients after an ischemic stroke has been developed by specialists at Tyumen State Medical University in Russia. Using this program together with a robotic training device creates the sensation of riding a bicycle for the patient. The results were published in the journal Bulletin of Rehabilitation Medicine of the Russian Ministry of Health.

The surplus of Russia's foreign trade in goods in January decreased to $6.6 billion, compared to $7.4 billion a year earlier, the Russian Central Bank said on Tuesday. "The surplus in the balance of foreign trade in goods amounted to $6.6 billion (the revised figure for December 2025 was $9.8 billion; the revised figure for January 2025 was $7.4 billion). The decrease in the figure in January 2026 compared to January 2025 was due to a more significant reduction in goods exports compared to imports," the statement read. Russia's current balance of payments surplus in January decreased to $0.4 billion from $2.8 billion one year earlier, the Central Bank added.

Researchers from National University of Science and Technology MISIS (NUST MISIS) have developed a new aluminium alloy containing calcium and titanium that demonstrates improved heat and wear resistance. The innovation is designed for use in future vehicle models and could contribute to the production of lighter and more durable automotive components, according to the website of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

The UAE continues to strengthen its position as one of the world's leading centres in the financial technology (FinTech) sector, benefiting from an integrated ecosystem that combines advanced digital infrastructure, flexible regulatory frameworks and the flow of global investments, in addition to the presence of leading financial and technology institutions.

Anutin Charnvirakul, a candidate from the Bhumjaithai Party, was re-elected Thailand's prime minister after securing a simple majority in a vote cast by the House of Representatives on Thursday.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday confirmed that Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib was killed in a recent attack.

Iran lashed out following the killing of Ali Larijani, the country's top security chief, with attacks on Israel on Wednesday, using some of its latest missiles to evade air defenses and killing two near Tel Aviv as the war in the Middle East showed no signs of slowing, media reported on Wednesday.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday issued an evacuation warning for several oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday said that Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib was killed in an overnight Israeli strike in Tehran, according to a statement issued by Katz's office.

A sign at a gas station in Lancaster, Massachusetts shows the surge in fuel prices on March 16, 2026, caused by the US-Israel war against Iran and the slowing of oil tanker traffic in the Persian Gulf.

Iranian media releases Ali Larijani's handwritten letter amid reports about his death

Multiple European nations and the European Union (EU) on Monday voiced reluctance or outright opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's call for a military mission to ensure safe shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Sunday that NATO would face a "very bad" future if its allies fail to take action to help Washington keep the Strait of Hormuz open, Financial Times reported.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has "demanded" about seven countries heavily reliant on Middle East oil join a coalition to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which about 20 percent of the world's oil passes.

Australia will not send navy ships to protect oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, a senior government minister said on Monday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump Sunday evening to discuss the situation in the Middle East and the disruption to global shipping caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The White House is planning to announce a multinational coalition to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing U.S. officials.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Sunday night reiterated his country's demand for compensation from its "enemy."

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said that the country is not asking for a ceasefire or negotiations with the United States, stating that Tehran is prepared to defend itself "as long as it takes" against what he described as an "illegal war."

Ukraine has become a target for Iran because of its involvement in the U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic republic, an Iranian lawmaker said on a social media platform on Saturday.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that he's not ready to make a deal to end the military campaign against Iran "because the terms aren't good enough yet."

The U.S. forces "executed a large-scale precision strike" on Kharg Island, a key oil export hub of Iran, on Friday night, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed on Saturday.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday on social media that "many countries" would send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, without offering any details.